LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles schools avoided a strike that would have impacted nearly 400,000 students in Southern California after the school district and the union representing support staff reached a tentative deal early Tuesday.
Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union announced on social media that it won a tentative agreement with major gains including raises and more hours. The district confirmed that an agreement in principle was reached, allowing schools to remain open and stating they would work to finalize the details of the agreement.
SEIU Local 99 also reported that the deal includes protections against subcontracting, a halt to IT layoffs, and increased staffing, stressing that the victory was a collective effort. Members were instructed to report to work as usual and the union expressed gratitude to the community and fellow unions for their support.
Prior to the agreement, teachers, principals, and other support staff were prepared to strike if an agreement was not made. The unions representing educators and administrators had reached preliminary contracts just days earlier.
All three unions, representing approximately 70,000 workers in the LA Unified School District, had pledged to strike if negotiations failed. Historically, they have never struck simultaneously, with previous teacher walkouts seeing continued administrative operations to keep schools open. This agreement marks a significant moment in labor relations within the district, demonstrating the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders.
